Upcoming power projects in Iceland

by Askja Energy on August 22, 2016

The following list explains what power projects are being considered in Iceland, according to the Icelandic Master Plan for Nature Protection and Energy Utilization. The projects have been cost analyzed (levelized cost of energy; LCOE), as described in a recent report published by the Icelandic Energy Industry Association (Samorka).

The projects are classified into three different groups (not all the possibilities have been officially cost-analyzed):

Utilization category: The project is likely to be developed if/when there is power demand and interest by the energy sector.

Projects on hold: More information and/or data is needed to decide if the project will be classified as Utilization or Protection.

Protection category: The project is unlikely to be developed, due to environmental issues.

The current classification is being reconsidered by the government However, it is the Icelandic Parliament (Alþingi) that takes final decision regarding how each project is categorized. This means that over time, project(s) may be moved from one category to another, based on a political decision by the Parliament. The following classification is up to date as of August 2016. Note that in Samorka’s report on the LCOE, the cheapest option, Norðlingaölduveita, is said to be on hold. In fact this option is currently in the protection category.

Project name

Current

Type

MW

Annual

LCOE

classification

GWh

USD/MWh

1

Norðlingaölduveita*

Protection

Hydro

n/a

670

22.50

2

Búlandsvirkjun

On hold

Hydro

150

1,057

25.00

3

Jökulsárveita/Blönduveita

On hold

Hydro

n/a

100

25.00

4

Urriðafossvirkjun

On hold

Hydro

140

1,037

25.00

5

Þeistareykir I** and II

Utilisation

Geothermal

270

2,214

28.90

6

Hrafnabjargavirkjun*

On hold

Hydro

89

585

30.50

7

Villinganesvirkjun

On hold

Hydro

33

215

30.50

8

Skrokkölduvirkjun

On hold

Hydro

45

345

30.50

9

Hólmsárvirkjun*

Protection

Hydro

72

470

30.50

10

Bjarnarflag

Utilisation

Geothermal

90

756

35.20

11

Meitillinn

Utilisation

Geothermal

45

369

35.20

12

Sandfell

Utilisation

Geothermal

100

820

35.20

13

Sveifluháls

Utilisation

Geothermal

100

820

35.20

14

Austurengjar

On hold

Geothermal

100

820

35.20

15

Gjástykki

On hold

Geothermal

50

420

35.20

16

Trölladyngja

On hold

Geothermal

100

820

35.20

17

Bitra

Protection

Geothermal

135

1,100

35.20

18

Brennisteinsfjöll

Protection

Geothermal

90

711

35.20

19

Hvammsvirkjun

Utilisation

Hydro

93

720

38.80

20

Búðartunguvirkjun

On hold

Hydro

27

230

38.80

21

Hagavatnsvirkjun

On hold

Hydro

20

120

38.80

22

Holtavirkjun

On hold

Hydro

57

450

38.80

23

Hraunavirkjun*

On hold

Hydro

126

731

38.80

24

Selfossvirkjun

On hold

Hydro

35

258

38.80

25

Stóra-Laxárvirkjun

Unclassified

Hydro

35

200

38.80

26

Tungnaárlón

On hold

Hydro

n/a

70

38.80

27

Bláfellsvirkjun

Protection

Hydro

89

516

38.80

28

Djúpárvirkjun

Protection

Hydro

86

499

38.80

29

Markarfljótsvirkjun

Protection

Hydro

121

702

38.80

30

Gráuhnúkar

Utilisation

Geothermal

45

369

44.80

31

Eldvörp

Utilisation

Geothermal

50

410

44.80

32

Hverahlíð

Utilisation

Geothermal

90

738

44.80

33

Krafla II

Utilisation

Geothermal

150

1,260

44.80

34

Stóra-Sandvík

Utilisation

Geothermal

50

410

44.80

35

Botnafjöll

On hold

Geothermal

90

711

44.80

36

Fremrinámar

On hold

Geothermal

100

840

44.80

37

Grashagi

On hold

Geothermal

90

711

44.80

38

Hágönguvirkjun

On hold

Geothermal

150

1,260

44.80

39

Innstidalur

On hold

Geothermal

45

369

44.80

40

Sandfell

On hold

Geothermal

90

711

44.80

41

Þverárdalur

On hold

Geothermal

90

738

44.80

42

Grændalur

Protection

Geothermal

120

984

44.80

43

Hverabotn

Protection

Geothermal

90

711

44.80

44

Kisubotnar

Protection

Geothermal

90

711

44.80

45

Neðri-Hveradalir

Protection

Geothermal

90

711

44.80

46

Þverfell

Protection

Geothermal

90

711

44.80

47

Blanda II

Utilisation

Hydro

31

194

49.70

48

Hvalárvirkjun

Utilisation

Hydro

55

320

49.70

49

Austurgilsvirkjun

On hold

Hydro

35

228

49.70

50

Blöndudalsvirkjun

On hold

Hydro

16

92

49.70

51

Brúarárvirkjun

On hold

Hydro

23

133

49.70

52

Hafrálónsárvirkjun efri

On hold

Hydro

15

87

49.70

53

Hafrálónsárvirkjun neðri

On hold

Hydro

78

452

49.70

54

Haukholtavirkjun

On hold

Hydro

17

99

49.70

55

Hestvatnsvirkjun

On hold

Hydro

34

197

49.70

56

Hofsárvirkjun

On hold

Hydro

39

226

49.70

57

Hverfisfljótsvirkjun

On hold

Hydro

42

243

49.70

58

Hvítá við Norðurreyki

On hold

Hydro

14

82

49.70

59

Kaldbaksvirkjun

On hold

Hydro

47

273

49.70

60

Kljáfossvirkjun

On hold

Hydro

16

93

49.70

61

Núpsárvirkjun

On hold

Hydro

71

412

49.70

62

Reyðarvatnsvirkjun

On hold

Hydro

14

82

49.70

63

Skatastaðavirkjun*

On hold

Hydro

156

1,090

49.70

64

Vatnsdalsárvirkjun

On hold

Hydro

28

162

49.70

65

Gýgarfossvirkjun

Protection

Hydro

22

128

49.70

66

Bakkahlaup

On hold

Geothermal

15

119

57.30

67

Hrúthálsavirkjun

On hold

Geothermal

20

160

57.30

68

Hveravallavirkjun

On hold

Geothermal

10

79

57.30

69

Reykjabólsvirkjun

On hold

Geothermal

10

79

57.30

70

Sandfellsvirkjun

On hold

Geothermal

10

79

57.30

71

Sköflungsvirkjun

On hold

Geothermal

90

711

57.30

72

Seyðishólavirkjun

On hold

Geothermal

10

79

57.30

73

Fljótshnjúksvirkjun

On hold

Hydro

58

405

60.50

74

Vörðufellsvirkjun

On hold

Hydro

58

174

60.50

75

Glámuvirkjun

On hold

Hydro

67

400

nyca

76

Arnardalsvirkjun*

Protection

Hydro

587

3,404

nyca

77

Bjallavirkjun

Protection

Hydro

46

310

nyca

78

Blöndulundur

Unclassified

Wind

100

350

nyca

79

Búrfellslundur

Unclassified

Wind

200

705

nyca

Notes:

*

The project may be developed in a different way for less environmental impacts, resulting in lower generation.

**

45 MW station at Þeistareykir is already under construction, with the electricity sold (long-term contract).

n/a

Projects involving new reservoir for current power stations (turbines may be added, but not necessarily).

nyca

Projects that have not yet been officially cost-analyzed.

———————————————————————————-

The list above may change at any time and new projects not listed may be introduced and developed.

Planned 45 MW wind power project of Biokraft in Southern Iceland is not included on the list.

No planned power projects under 10 MW (mainly small hydro) are included on the list.

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